Phrase guide

pro bono

prep_phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /prəʊ ˈbəʊnəʊ/
  • US: /proʊ ˈboʊnoʊ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Without charging a fee, done without fee, generally for clients or patients of limited means.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law, medicine, sciences

Examples

  • The firm currently has about half a dozen pro bono cases at any one time.
  • After he retired, he offered representation pro bono from time to time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

done for the public good without compensation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Abbreviated from Latin prō bonō publicō (“for the public good”).

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: pro deo — without fee
  • French: bénévolement — without fee
  • Hungarian: ingyen — without fee
  • Hungarian: ingyenes — without fee
  • Hungarian: jószolgálati — without fee
  • Hungarian: pro bono — without fee
  • Italian: pro bonu — without fee
  • Persian: عامالمنفعه ('âm-ol-manfa'e) — without fee
  • Spanish: pro bono — without fee
  • Spanish: turno de oficio — without fee
  • Spanish: pro bono público — without fee